I Got Married to a Yandere Queen-Chapter 44 - 43 - Red Eyes in the Alley

Not long after that, Mira woke up. Though she still looked weak and a little dazed, the young girl immediately got up when Riven asked her to leave. They didn’t want to stay there any longer. Even if the medical bills were paid in full, Riven still felt uneasy "owing" space in such a luxurious place.

They walked down the main road of Dorthlam City, their footsteps blending with the buzz of city life. Dorthlam was a fairly large city, quite bustling—street vendors shouted out their goods, the sound of horses pulling carts echoed, and the clinking of metal from the blacksmith’s forge filled the air. The warm midday sun hit their skin, adding to the sense of a fast-moving and colorful life.

However, Riven felt like a stranger. His steps were steady, but his thoughts were far behind.

This journey... had been reckless. Dangerous. He had set off with nothing but a sliver of hope and a dose of courage after hearing a rumor. It wasn’t an exaggeration to say he was alive only thanks to luck.

But even though most of his belongings were lost—his weapons, gear, even the loot—none of it was wasted. He found Crysthalis. That alone was enough to pay for everything he’d lost.

And... he met Anna.

That woman didn’t just save their lives. She trained both of them, him and Mira, to become Lawbearers. Even though she also brought danger with her.

But without her... without Anna...

Riven and Mira would’ve been dead, devoured by that beast wave. Their story would’ve ended right there.

The image of Anna’s face appeared in his mind. That sharp gaze. Her rare but unforgettable smile. Her blood-red hair falling freely at night.

And then—without him realizing it—another image followed. Anna’s bare figure, bathing in the lake under the moonlight. The moment flashed so vividly in his head that he slapped his own cheek hard.

SLAP!

"Damn it..." he muttered, cursing himself inwardly.

’Why do I keep picturing that every time I think of Anna? Am I really that hopeless? Idiot...!’

Mira turned to look at him, her eyes full of innocent confusion.

"Riven... have you gone crazy?"

Riven glanced at her, then awkwardly looked away.

"No... just a mosquito."

Mira frowned, unconvinced, but didn’t press further. She turned her eyes back to the road, while Riven took a deep breath.

Earlier, he had asked Mira what she remembered.

And just as he expected—Mira knew nothing.

To her, it felt like a long nap. When she woke up, she was already in an unfamiliar place, with Riven lying injured beside her. She had no idea what had happened. No idea that they were nearly torn apart by a horde of monsters. No idea their lives had dangled on a thread.

And Riven... had no intention of telling her.

Why should he? The girl had already been through enough. There was no point adding to her burden with something that was already over—something that would only make her worry if remembered.

Better to keep it to himself.

All he wanted... was for Mira to keep laughing, and to keep calling him brother like always.

Their steps moved in sync through the bustling streets of Dorthlam until suddenly Mira turned to Riven and asked, her voice soft but clear.

"Brother... you promised not to pick up weapons from the battlefield anymore, right?" Her eyes stared straight into his, innocent, but with a hint of worry behind them.

"So... what are we going to do now?"

The question made Riven stop walking for a moment.

He lowered his gaze, staring at the cobblestones beneath his feet. A simple question, but the answer... was far more complicated than it seemed.

For years, that had been the only life he knew—scavenging after war, taking weapons from dead soldiers, selling scrap and magical remnants for money to survive, to eat, to raise Mira.

He had long known it wasn’t a noble life. But he endured it, for her. And now, after everything that happened...

And after the promise he made.

At last... Riven made his decision.

He looked at Mira and replied in a calm voice, filled with unshakable resolve.

"We’re going to the capital," he said. "Then we’ll rent a small room, maybe a little boarding house. After that, we’ll open a stall and sell grilled fish at the market. We start from the bottom."

Mira blinked.

"Grilled fish?"

Riven nodded.

"We’ll save the profits. When we’ve got enough, we’ll open a second stall. Then a third. Then four. We’ll hire people. Start a franchise. Build a brand. Become the grilled fish kings of the entire Belmore Kingdom."

He turned to Mira with a crooked grin.

"And we’ll call it... Riven and Mira Grilled Fin." he said with dramatic flair, like announcing the name of a legendary kingdom. "One day, everyone will eat our fish."

Mira stared at him, eyes wide... then lit up.

"I don’t really get that last part... but it sounds like a good plan!"

Riven chuckled and ruffled her hair with affection. Looking ahead, he spoke softly but firmly,

"We need a fresh start."

Anna’s face flickered again in his mind, and with a teasing tone tinged with faint hope, he added,

"Maybe I’ll find a girlfriend too. Preferably a rich one. I mean, I don’t look that bad, right? "I don’t even care if she’s an ugly sugar mommy, as long as she’s got money and loyalty, I’ll enjoy life."

Mira, who had been walking calmly, suddenly stopped and glared at Riven, pinching his arm in protest.

"Brotheeeer!" she cried, puffing her cheeks with mock indignation.

She then folded her arms across her chest, lifted her chin high, and spoke in a haughty, grown-up tone,

"Then I’ll find a rich boyfriend too! And we’ll live happily ever after!"

The two of them stared at each other... and in the sudden warmth of silence, they burst out laughing. Free, light-hearted, and unburdened laughter.

Without another word, they opened their arms and hugged each other tightly.

"You really are my big brother," Mira whispered, small but sincere.

"And you really are my little sister," Riven replied, gently patting her back.

As they embraced, a strange sound suddenly interrupted the moment.

Grrrrrgggggh...

Riven paused. He frowned and looked at Mira.

Mira immediately shoved him lightly, face red.

"That... that wasn’t me!" she protested, though it clearly came from her stomach.

Before Riven could respond, another growl echoed, this time louder, and from his own belly.

Grrrrrrhhghgh...

They looked at each other.

Then burst into laughter again.

Riven laughed heartily, rubbing his stomach.

"Hahaha, okay, that one was me. We’re both starving." He patted his stomach as if asking it to be patient.

"So... how about some meat to celebrate our new beginning? Juicy grilled meat, thick and dripping with fat, seasoned with sweet and salty spice, and a bowl of steaming rice to go with it."

Mira nodded so fast it looked like her head might fall off.

"Yes! I want that! Lots of it!" she exclaimed, drool visibly forming at the corner of her mouth.

Riven chuckled again and patted her head.

"Just don’t eat so fast you faint."

Mira pouted.

"Let’s make it a competition!"

They resumed walking, their steps lighter and spirits high, making their way toward the city’s center in search of the promised smell of grilled meat.

But... unbeknownst to them, not far from where they walked, hidden in the shadow of a narrow alley—

A pair of blood-red eyes watched them intently. Unblinking, glowing faintly in the dark, as if waiting... or judging.

And in silence, the owner of those eyes smiled—a thin, knowing smile.

The sourc𝗲 of this content is free(w)𝒆bnov(𝒆)l